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 Films |
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The Boys from County Clare (2003)
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Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould
Photo by Peter Bregg Directed by Michčle Hozer & Peter Raymont If you are interested in classical music, musicians, piano, or human nature, this documentary film is a must see. It’s excellent. There have been other films about eccentric pianist Glenn Gould, specifically “On the Record” and “Off the Record,” (National Film Board of Canada, 1959) and “Thirty-Two Short Films about Glenn Gould” (1993) - a series of vignettes about his life. “Genius Within” is the most comprehensive film study to date. It follows Gould’s development as pianist from his early years until the day of his death in 1982 at the age of 50.
Gould was only 22 when he made his American debut at
Town Hall, New York City (1955). The following day, he was offered
an exclusive recording contract with Columbia Records. His recording
of Bach’s Goldberg Variations received immediate critical acclaim.
The rest is history.
Eventually Gould refused to play concerts, preferring
to edit his recordings meticulously instead. He was obsessed with
having absolute control over every aspect of his work.
The interesting aspect of the film are the personal
interviews with people who knew him but had never spoken publically
about their relationship with him. Cornelia Foss, the wife of
German born, American composer/conductor Lucas Foss, left her
husband and took their two young children to live in Toronto. The
news about her four and a half year affair with Gould only broke two
years ago. |
 Mao to Mozart: Isaac Stern in China, Directed by Murray Lerner, 84 minutes, 1981, USA Isaac Stern visited Beijing, and Shanghai on his trip to China. Besides showing the violinist mentoring young Chinese students, the film reveals a disturbing history, the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), when western influences were opposed and the playing of classical music was forbidden. Ironically, in 1979, he was invited by the government to perform and teach the techniques of Mozart to Chinese musicians. Academy Award, Best Documentary, Features, Murray Lerner, 1981 |
Mark
O'Connor
handled the solo work on "The
Patriot". The film stars Mel Gibson and takes place during the
revolutionary war. Mark is the featured musical soloist performing William's "Gabriel's Theme" at the end of
the movie over the credits. . He said recording it was a classic scene complete with
a 100 piece orchestra conducted by John Williams at the Columbia Pictures back
lot studios. "The piece I played was a beautiful Celtic-like melody."
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 Once, directed by John Carney, 85 minutes, 2006, Ireland "Once" is a terrific film. Be patient with the opening moments; the film just keeps getting better. It's a romantic love story about a Guy (Glen Hansard) and a Girl (Markéta Irglová) who meet by chance on the street, and their relationship isn't predictable. The two main characters are naturals, and their original music makes the film work. John Carney's direction is outstanding as he creates one charming moment after another.
The song "Falling Slowly" is a magical duet that will stay with you long after you have seen the film. Shot in 17 days, it shows an image of Dublin from times past... a working class city. It's a film possessed by music, and it's a touching story about would-be musicians and the struggles they go through to produce their first recording.
Academy Award, Best
Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song, |
 Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill have created the original score for the award-winning film "Photos to Send." Dierdre Lynch's stunning documentary walks in the footsteps of Dorothea Lange's 1954 visit to County Clare on assignment for Life magazine. Lange had met and photographed many people around Mt. Callan in the fall of that year, and has left a legacy of magnificent photographs and her impressions of a noble community. Nearly half a century later Ms Lynch went back and spoke with some of those same people, and the film that has emerged is an intimate and poignant view of life in Ireland today in relation to those photos and notes of 1954. Director: Dierdre Lynch Tel: 603 - 635-9429 |
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"Appalachian Song
Collector" |
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 They Shall Have Music, directed by Archie Mayo, 105 minutes, 1939, USA
This 1939 film will delight the entire family. It tells the
story of a young boy who, running away from home and the law, stumbles onto a
music school for poor children. The children at the school are played
by members of the Peter Meremblum California Youth Symphony Orchestra. Their
performances are outstanding. |
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 The Winners, directed by Paul Cohen and David van Tijn, 85 minutes, 1998, Netherlands "One of the best documentaries about classical music ever made and probably the best about the limits of virtuosity." - Variety
"The Winners" explores what happens to four
classical musicians who won the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Competition in
Brussels. Winning is not a guarantee to a successful life or career in
music.
The Winners: When Winning Isn't the Only Thing
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